Leda SchubertAnmeldelser

I really loved the illustrations in this one! They are very bright and stylized. They seem to fit perfectly with illustrating New York. The story was also very unique, another one based on a true event, where a boy's family saves up for him to leave Russia to study singing opera in Italy. The boy takes the wrong boat and ends up in New York instead, but by following his passion of singing as he makes hats, he is still able to meet someone that can teach him opera and ends up finding big success. In the end, as he is older, he is able to bring his family over and they live together with him and his new wife.

With the changing of every season comes firsts and lasts. What makes each season special. Follow long with two sisters as they go through a year full of “changes.”


The author and illustrator use simple text and brightly colored illustrations to paint a picture of what is special about each season. This book is a perfect read aloud and will invite much discussion about the seasons. Each page draws the reader in as they imagine the things they do in the Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. It will work well with a theme about the seasons and an introduction to the four seasons or just to start a discussion about change

Great illustrations and immigrant story. My kids were amused / annoyed at my insistence upon singing through parts of it.

A wonderful story about a real woman we don't know much about!

A beautiful biographical picture book about Raven Wilkinson, the first African American to dance for a major ballet company. This books follows her journey to the stage and does not shy away from showing the hardship that she experienced because of racism.

This is a beautifully illustrated, inspirational account of the life of Marcel Marceau, the world’s most famous mime, from his early life in France, his work with the French Resistance against the Nazis, and his successful stage life. Source Notes, Further Reading.

A picture book biography that sometimes reads like a song. Readers will meet this legendary folksinger and activist. His songs are mentioned throughout and listening to them would be a natural extension. Includes Author’s Note, Timeline, Bibliography, Resources

The world is fortunate to have family stories like this one published for all to read.

This is the true story of Raven Wilkinson, who as a young woman became a professional ballerina while dealing with many obstacles. Despite insults hurled against her from racist audience members to full-on KKK threats, she persevered as the first African-American woman in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (an American touring ballet troupe) and later became a member of the Dutch National Ballet and the New York City Opera.

This book was bittersweet and had me near tears at one point. Raven Wilkinson seems like a lovely person and it's such an unjust world that she had to face so many tribulations in her chosen career for no reason other than the color of her skin. And that it took still decades later before another hurdle could be passed, when an African-American professional dancer played the lead role in Swan Lake at last, noting that Raven Wilkinson was an inspiration and a mentor in her own career.

This title opens with a foreword by Misty Copeland, that same dancer who drew inspiration from Raven Wilkinson's life and career. Backmatter includes a note from Raven Wilkinson herself, a brief biographical sketch, a glossary of ballet terms, and a bibliography. The illustrations throughout are bold, striking, and eye-catching, with emotions clearly shown.

A little girl asks her mother what she is doing all along the process of the mother feeding the sheep and shearing the sheep all the way up to the finished product of a warm, woolen sweater knitted for her daughter.

This was a lovely book on many levels. Without being heavy-handed or didactic, it shows a beautiful bond and love between daughter and mother as well as how much hard work goes even into simple, everyday items that we all take for granted. The coming-full-circle ending with the daughter going out to feed the sheep is just perfect. The illustrations help to express the text, but my only quibble is that some terms (particularly "carding") might not be familiar ones for everyone and are not fully explained.½

Raven Wilkinson was the first African-American ballerina ever to dance with a major American touring troupe, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Later, she danced with the Dutch National Ballet and the New York City Opera.

Foreword by Misty Copeland; letter from Raven to readers at the end. Additional back matter includes "About Raven Wilkinson," ballet terms, and a partial bibliography.

See also: Mae Among the Stars; Firebird; Brave Girl

Raul Colon's illustrations awesome!!

It is a good book for intermediate students. The book generally talked about the life of a famous mime, Monsieur Marceau. He is a Jewish who go through the period of the WWII. He made the contribution to help Jewish people and the American soldiers. Later he becomes famous because of his brilliant talent on mime. The language was used in this book vividly depict how marvelous his mime it is. The illustrations are also meaningful. The story was written based on the real life of Monsieur Marceau, so the book belongs to biography category. It can be used in history class, social study class, ad literature class.

Raven Wilkinson was the first African American ballerina to be a part of an American touring troupe in America. The biography starts with a foreword from Misty Copeland, a current well-known African American ballerina who expresses how important Raven Wilkinson is in her life. We then journey through Raven's life, and the obstacles she had to overcome in order to become a ballerina. Raven auditioned three times for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and on the third try she was finally chosen. Shortly before Raven joined the company, Brown v. the Board of Education allowed blacks and whites to attend the same schools. Though many people dreamed for this day to come, there were many people who were not happy. While Raven toured with the company, they had shows in the south where the KKK's presence was strong. While dancing one night on stage, the KKK came onto the stage and tried to taunt Raven, but her fellow dancers formed a circle around her to protect her. It was these obstacles that made being a ballerina hard for a person of color. After a few years, Raven's time ended with the company and she joined a convent to do some soul searching. Soon after this reflection period of her life, Raven was chosen by the Dutch National Ballet where they cared about who she was and not what she was.

This book was a breath of fresh air. Speaking as a former ballerina, it is true that there is a lack of diversity and representation within the ballet community. I had many friends that I danced with, who were black, and I never realized that they didn't have many ballerinas to see themselves in and to look up to. That is why this book is so important to have for young girls alike. This story of Raven Wilkinson's life is inspiring and it is one of perseverance, dignity, hope, and strength. The words flow in such a beautiful way, and the illustrations are absolutely graceful. Raven Wilkinson's story is truly incredible, and at the end of the book she wrote a leader to her "Dear Young Friends" that will make your heart warm for days. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that wants to feel inspired.

There are two new books out this year on Pete Seeger. One is for older children (Stand Up and Sing: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and The Path to Justice by Susanna Reich), and this one is for younger kids. Interestingly, both authors saw Seeger perform when they were young, and were very influenced by him.

Leda Schubert writes at the beginning of this book:

“Listen.
There was nobody like Pete Seeger.
Wherever he went, he got people singing.”

She tells a bit about his favorite songs, and about his social activism:

“Listen.
Pete participated his whole life.
He led marches to end wars;
He stood on peace lines in cold and snow, heat and rain.”

She explains how he traveled the country with his good friend and fellow singer and activist Woody Guthrie. He was called before The House Un-American Activities Committee of the United States Congress and questioned about his protests. She reports:

“Pete said, ‘I love my country very deeply,’
Offered to sing a song,
And stood by his First Amendment right,
The right of free speech.”

Seeger was then part of the singing group "The Weavers," and the government accusations cost them concert bookings and television appearances. But Seeger just kept on traveling, and kept on singing. And he didn’t just say things, Schubert writes, he did things. As the Chicago Tribune reported in his obituary:

"Seeger became a beacon to many artists on the emerging folk scene of the ‘60s, co-founding the Newport Folk Festival in 1959. 'We all owe our careers to him,” Joan Baez said. The Kingston Trio's version of Seeger's anti-war song 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?' and Peter, Paul and Mary's take on 'If I Had a Hammer' were early ‘60s pop hits."

Schubert writes in her Author’s Note at the end of the book:

“Over the course of his ninety-four years, Pete Seeger sang so much, did so much, wrote so much, spoke so much, and influenced so many people that at times he seemed to be everywhere at once. He recorded more than fifty albums . . . and devoted much of his life and music to the fights for justice, peace, equality, and a cleaner environment. . . . . He believed in the power of community and he created communities everywhere he went.”

The New York Times wrote in his obituary:

“For Mr. Seeger, folk music and a sense of community were inseparable, and where he saw a community, he saw the possibility of political action.

In his hearty tenor, Mr. Seeger, a beanpole of a man who most often played 12-string guitar or five-string banjo, sang topical songs and children’s songs, humorous tunes and earnest anthems, always encouraging listeners to join in. His agenda paralleled the concerns of the American left: He sang for the labor movement in the 1940s and 1950s, for civil rights marches and anti-Vietnam War rallies in the 1960s, and for environmental and antiwar causes in the 1970s and beyond. “We Shall Overcome,” which Mr. Seeger adapted from old spirituals, became a civil rights anthem.”

The book concludes with a timeline, endnotes, selected biography, list of books for children, and perhaps most importantly, a list of recommended recordings.

The artwork by the prolific Puerto Rican American illustrator Raúl Colón employs his trademark style of watercolor washes, colored pencils, grainy paper, and an etching instrument to achieve an effect somewhere between intaglio and pointillism. The muted palette suggests a time in the past.

Evaluation: Both of the new books out on Seeger are lovely, and suggest that there are many different ways to be active on social issues. I hope parents will supplement the reading with a selection of Seeger’s songs. Children have always loved them, and of course the adults may have their own memories associated with his music.

Monsier Marceau: Actor Without Words by Leda Shubert and illustrated by Gerard DuBois, won the 2013 Orbis Pictus Award. In addition to the Orbis Pictus Award, it is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of 2012 and the Winner of the Norman A. Sugarman Award for outstanding children’s biography. It is a biography picture book that is 40 pages and is recommended for children ages 4-8 years old. Shubert tells the complex story of Marcel Marceau in an eloquently simple and age appropriate way, while DuBois’ paintings bring the text alive. Marcel Marceau was 16 when WWII broke out and changed his last name to hide his Jewish identity. The book explains some of the events happening in France during WWII and how Marceau joined the French underground and saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish French children. Marceau is known as the world's most famous mine, expressing volumes to his audiences without saying a word. This book offers an inside look at the man who captivated audiences and insight into the internal motivation for his choice of silence on stage and form of artistic expression.

The life of a famous mime and how to use wordless expression to tell a story. Very inspirational and may work well in thinking and showing what it would be like to have an impairment in your senses.

Monsieur Marceau grew up on the border between France and Germany and dreamed of becoming a star like Charlie Chaplin. Then WWII started and he was forced to flee as child and his father died in a concentration camp. He spent his time helping children escape to Switzerland and contributing to the French underground movement. After the war was over, he studied mime. He became very famous and traveled all over the world. The conclusion simply stated that he was well-loved around the world and loved his audiences in return. I think this style leaves the conclusion to be drawn by the reader, which I appreciate.½

Fun pictures, and a good summary of Marceau's life. He was part of the French Resistance, which surprised me, and his father died in a concentration camp. He changed his last name so it wouldn't give him away as a Jew during the Holocaust.

"My name is Mangel. I am Jewish. Perhaps that, unconsciously, contributed towards my choice of silence."

I can see this being presented in a young dramatic arts class followed by everyone doing the suggested miming activities in the back of the book. A solid, simple introduction for children to a famous artist although references to Nazis, concentation camps and Jews during WW2 will require some backstory.

I love this book! it is such a fun and unique story. I think this would be a great addition to a history lesson. I like the illustrations and the author's prose.

This is the amazing story of the very talented Marcel Marceau, and outlines his life as a mime and Jewish artist in Europe during WWII.

A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.

A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.